Ab Exercise Checklist To
Tighten Your Tummy From
eDiets - The online diet, fitness, and healthy living resource
Far too many people spend hours trying to
tighten that tummy, only to see the same old pudgy pooch day after day. Where
are the fruits of your labors, you wonder.
Well, fitness expert Michael Stefano has
the answer. The author of The Firefighter’s Workout (HarperCollins)
has put together a checklist for flat abs that will guarantee results. But if
you're not focusing on all five aspects, then you probably aren't getting any
closer to that six-pack.
The Flat Abs Checklist
1. Eat Right: Find a
nutritional program that works for you and stick to it.
2. Exercise: Three times a week,
perform some type of aerobic conditioning or circuit training for 20 to 30
minutes.
3. Ab/Core Routine: Include 2
abdominal exercises in your routine.
4. Good Posture: Perform a posture
check.
5. Reduce Stress: Relax with
exercise, deep breathing or meditation.
 If you don't
take this five-step approach, you're going to be missing something," Stefano
tells eDiets. "No matter how much you exercise, if you miss one of these steps
you're going to handicap yourself. You cant take a one-prong approach.
“Too many people think you can just do
sit-ups and bike kicks to flatten your abs. Sure those exercises will tone and
tighten the abs, but you have to take steps to reduce the fat.”
Stefano says that far too often people
believe that doing ridiculous amounts of sit-ups is the only way to get fab
abs. Sure, their stomach muscles are rock hard, but they're hidden beneath that
beer belly.
“Unless you're already lean, just
doing sit-ups, bike kicks or any abdominal exercises will have no effect at all
on the reduction of body fat," he says.
While most people are well aware of the
need for a healthy eating regimen, a regular aerobic workout
and an ab/core routine, many exercise enthusiasts may not realize the
importance of good posture and stress reduction techniques. If you're
constantly slouching and not standing up straight, you'll have that pot-belly
appearance. Good posture promotes a taller, leaner and more youthful look.
Stress increases the production of insulin
(the fat storage hormone) and cortisol, which is associated with increased
appetite and increased fat deposits, typically around the trunk and abdomen.
Stefano points out that the effects of cortisol can be combated by meditation.
When you do relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or meditation, a
hormone known as DHEA is released. This hormone reduces blood cortisol levels
and fights against the negative effects of stress.
By following all five steps, you'll be on
your way to fabber abs. Get started with the following ab/core routine. Perform
two sets of 20 for each exercise. Rest one minute between sets. Do this routine
two to three times a week.
CRUNCH
 Lie on your back
on a mat or padded carpet with your knees partially bent, feet flat on the
floor, arms folded across your chest (least intense). Be sure the feet are not
too near your buttocks. Exhale as you press the lower back into the floor and
begin to raise your head, shoulders and chest off the floor in one unit,
concentrating on bringing the ribs towards the hips. Pause briefly as you feel
your abdominal muscles contract. The movement need only be a few inches. Inhale
and slowly curl back down, trying not to let your head and shoulders touch the
floor, maintaining tension in the abdominal muscles for the entire set. Repeat
to muscle fatigue.
Trainer's Notes:
Be sure to keep the
knees only partially bent with the heels at least one foot from your butt. This
engages the oblique muscles as well as the rectus abdominus. To increase
intensity, lengthen the pause when the abs are flexed to 2 seconds, or place
your hands behind your head (as in the bicycle kick). Extend the arms overhead
to maximize intensity levels.
Goal: 2 sets of 20 to 30 repetitions
BIKE KICK
 Lie on your back on a mat
or padded carpet with knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Press the low back
into the floor, engaging the abdominal muscles, as you put both hands behind
your head (don't pull on the head). Bring the right elbow over to the left
knee, and then bring the left elbow over to the right knee in a twisting,
bicycle pedal motion. Continue to breathe naturally. Alternate opposite elbow
to opposite knee with hands interlaced behind the head in a slow and controlled
manner, and to muscle fatigue, with full extension of each leg on every
repetition.
Trainer’s Notes:
Be sure to
breathe naturally and not hold your breath at any time during this exercise.
Full extension of the legs will increase intensity (as shown), as will
performing the motion very slowly. Keep the knees bent throughout the movement,
while you tap the feet to the floor (instead of extending the leg straight
out), to decrease intensity.
Goal: 2 sets of 20 to 30 repetitions
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